Bastareaud could play Super Rugby one day

French centre Mathieu Bastareaud has revealed that he could be tempted to play Super Rugby in New Zealand one day in the future.

Bastareud toured New Zealand in 2009 and left in embarrassment following a series of lies about a big night out.

However the French international has gotten over the shame of 2009 and grown to love and respect New Zealand.

"Yes, yes for me I'm a young player I think a good experience...." Bastareaud told OneNews.

"It's an honour to play here ...It's the country of rugby - so maybe," he said of one day playing in New Zealand.

Twenty-four-year-old Bastareaud still has two years left to run on his Toulon contract in the French Top 14.

Bastareud says that the number New Zealand of players plying their trade in French rugby have helped grow his affection for New Zealand.

"I think the French was more bad with me than here," he said when reflecting on his disgraceful exit from New Zealand four years ago.

"So, I come here, I apologise (for accusing Wellington locals of assault) and after everything is ok... in France not the same," he said.

The Toulon team includes former All Black prop Carl Hayman, former All Black winger Rudi Wulf and former Blues winger David Smith and Bastareaud says that their approach to rugby has been a real eye opener.

"They can have fun ... when they go on to the field no fun, work work work work ....but us in France, we can't do this," he explained.

However Bastareaud's affection for New Zealand only goes so far at this stage as his neighbour Hayman asked him to join him on holiday but he declined.

"He asked me if I want to stay with him in New Plymouth I say I'm sorry but I go to the sun because here is too cold for me!!"